In 2014-15, fresh apple consumption in Australia was around 8kg per person per year equating to less than one apple per week (assuming a single apple weighs around 175gms). In the same year fresh pear consumption was around 2.5kg per person per year (excluding nashi pears) equating to around one pear a month (assuming a single pear weighs around 210gms).

For the year 2014-15, Australia’s apple industry was valued at nearly $556 million, while the pear industry was valued at around $125 million. The combined apple and pear industry was valued at $681 million, making it the highest value fruit industry in Australia, larger than citrus ($508M), bananas ($455M) and table grapes ($343M).

In 2016, there are around 560 levy-paying growers of apples and pears in Australia. An ongoing decline in grower numbers indicates a consolidation of the industry where smaller-scale growers are exiting the industry and medium- and large-scale growers taking over.